A Sociology of the World Rally Championship: History, Identity, Memories and Place

From its inauguration in 1973 until today, the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) has been transformed from a little-known series to a pop-cultural roadshow worth millions of euros. In a promotional context this has spurred a debate between those who want rallying to be what it was historically and those who desire a real shift into 'the commercial age'. Drawing upon interviews with key people in the sport and trans-local ethnographic research from rallies, spectator cultures, the inner life of a WRC team, and the media production facilities, this book explores these questions of commerciality and sporting identity, arguing that the WRC's sporting identity is in fact a promotional asset.

Placed at the intersection of sociology and sports management, A Sociology of the World Rally Championship is essential reading on how to combine sporting heritage with commercial progress.

Drawing upon interviews with key people in the World Rally Championship as well as trans-local ethnographic research, this book explores questions of commerciality and sporting identity, tackling the sport's controversial handling of the shift into 'the commercial age'. It is essential reading on combining sporting heritage and commercial progress.

Hans Erik Næss is a Research Fellow in Sociology at the University of Oslo, Norway. He is affiliated with the interdisciplinary research programme CULTRANS (Cultural Transformation in the Age of Globalization).

1. Introduction: The Paradox of Commercialisation2. The Promotional Context3. Imagining the Story4. The Sense of Place in Rallying5. The Spectator Culture of Rallying6. The Legacy of WRC Cars7. Heroes behind the Wheel8. The WRC's Promotional Value